Southwest parents visited the cafeteria and classrooms Wednesday, Feb. 6, to learn concrete ways to help their children master the strategies and techniques of math.
Most of the exercises were hands-on, in which parents and students incorporated knowledge, comprehension, application and ways to stimulate their thought processes. They rotated among work stations where they were tasked with solving problems by using objects, pictures and measuring devices. In one class, a student watched a video presentation on how to round decimals.
Parents picked up lots of hands-on materials -- including a multiplication chart, a math reference sheet and problem-solving strategies -- that will be used as a guide at home. “Things you see on a daily basis can be used to enhance math skills,” said Twilet Alexander, the Southwest Campus director. “You can use color-coded Skittles and cereal, for example, to determine patterns, groupings, even multiplication by twos.”
The two-hour session was designed to enable parents to help students tackle difficult math problems they may encounter at home. The parents were guided by the campus director,curriculum coordinators and teachers.
“This was very educational,”said a parent of a second-grade student. “I now have an understanding of how I can assist my child with homework on a daily basis. I wish more parents were here to take advantage of an event like this.”
Here are some helpful links:
Next parent engagement night will be a health fair from 5-7 p.m March 7.